Thought for the day

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who as the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat. [Theodore Roosevelt]

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Damian Aspinall's reunion with wild gorilla, Kwibi [FULL VERSION]

I am a sucker for these type videos.

More Weight Loss Motivation

Friday, October 29, 2010

Carving a Jack-o-Lantern the Old Fashioned Way

Mark Twain Best Seller - Copyrighted?

From this link we hear -



Mark Twain's autobiography, to be officially published for the first time 100 years after his death is already looking like it's going to be a best seller. The book comes out on November 15th, but it's already near the top of the bestseller lists on both Amazon and Barnes & Noble thanks to pre-orders. If you weren't aware, Twain (real name Samuel Clemens), wrote this autobiography towards the end of his life, but demanded that it not be published until 100 years after his death (some of it, he demanded be withheld for 500 years). Allegedly, he did this so that he could say what he wanted without worrying about the people he spoke ill of ever finding out.  And while it's sure to be a hit, the folks putting out the book are claiming a brand spanking new copyright on the work:
Autobiography of Mark Twain, Volume 1 Copyright© 2010, 2001 by the Mark Twain Foundation. All Rights Reserved. Transcription, reconstruction, and creation of the texts, introduction, notes, and appendixes Copyright© 2010 by The Regents of the University of California. The Mark Twain Foundation expressly reserves to itself, its successors and assigns, all dramatization rights in every medium, including without limitation, stage, radio, television, motion picture, and public reading rights, in and to the Autobiography of Mark Twain and all other texts by Mark Twain in copyright to the Mark Twain Foundation.
I was thinking about this for a bit, and I'm pretty sure the Foundation is (mostly) wrong. According to the handy-dandy copyright term and public domain chart for the US, unpublished works from authors who died before 1940 are in the public domain. That would indicate that most of the work should be in the public domain. Separately, even if we look at the chart for published works, a work published in 2010 is supposed to be granted copyright for 70 years after the death of the author. We're 100 years after the death of the author -- so, again, it should be public domain
 
I still plan on reading it.

Head in elephants patoot

So you think you have a lousy job...

The Best Sentence I have Read This Year

A German student "mooned" a group of Hell's Angels and hurled a puppy at them before escaping on a stolen bulldozer, police have said.

From the BBC

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

If A Dog Were Your Teacher

If a dog were your teacher, you would learn stuff like:
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
When it’s in your best interest, practice obedience.
Let others know when they’ve invaded your territory.
Take naps and stretch before rising.
Run, romp, and play daily.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
No matter how often you’re scolded, don’t buy into the guilt thing and pout… run right back and make friends.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.
Stop when you have had enough.
Be loyal.
Never pretend to be something you’re not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
And MOST of all… When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by
and nuzzle them gently.

Author Unknown

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Dog surprises Officer

Another passing

Dear friends,
It is with the saddest heart that I pass on the following.  Please join
me in remembering a great icon.

The Pillsbury Doughboy died yesterday of a yeast infection and
complications from repeated pokes in the belly.  He was 71.

Doughboy was buried in a lightly-greased coffin.  Dozens of celebrities
turned out to pay their respects, including Mrs.  Butterworth, Hungry
Jack, the California Raisins, Betty Crocker, the Hostess Twinkies, and
Cap'n Crunch.  The grave site was piled high with flours as long- time
friend, Aunt Jemima, delivered the eulogy, describing Doughboy as a man
who never knew how much he was kneaded.  Doughboy rose quickly in show
business, but his later life was filled with turnovers.  He was not
considered a very "smart" cookie, wasting much of his dough on
half-baked schemes.  Despite being a little flaky at times, he -- even
still, as a crusty old man -- was considered a roll model for millions.
Toward the end, it was thought he would rise again, but alas, he was no
tart.

Doughboy is survived by his wife, Play Dough; two children, John Dough
and Jane Dough; plus they had one in the oven.  He is also survived by
his elderly father, Pop Tart.

The funeral was held at 3:50 for about twenty minutes.

Paraprosdokian

A paraprosdokian is a figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected in a way that causes the reader or listener to re-frame or re-interpret the first part. It is frequently used for humorous or dramatic effect. For this reason, it is extremely popular among comedians and satirists.




I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn't work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness.
Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

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Stereotypes


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Can't Help Yourself

Buffalo Springfield - For What It's Worth

Arguably one of the top ten songs of that era.


Saturday's '60s throwback came courtesy of Neil and Pegi Young's 24th annual benefit concert to support the Bridge School, which educates children with severe impairments. Although the lineup for the all-acoustic, eight-hour affair was typically eclectic, the undeniable focus was on Young's first public reunion with remaining original members of his old band, formed with Stephen Stills and Richie Furay in the musical cauldron of 1966 and disbanded two years later.


Most Beautiful Places In the World To Visit

Fairy Tale Destinations



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Mouse Exercising

My morning exercise is catching on with others here.




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Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Motivation For Weight Loss

Puggy - Dog with the Longest Tongue...

A Great Tool For Browsing

If you use a lot of online services it also means that you have got a lot of passwords and usernames to remember. Aware of this issue, all Internet browsers have got a special feature which, as soon as you login your email account for example,  prompt you to save password and username so that, next time you will use the service again, the browser will fill in the login interface for you. However, while the username is fully displayed, the password is hidden by asterisks. Now, if for any reason you don’t remember such a password you won’t have any way to recover it. Usually, to get it back, you will have to buy a special piece of software. Recently, I have found an interesting, amazing piece of code which will reveal all your forgotten passwords hidden behind asterisk in your browser…in a couple of seconds and without spending a dime!   Continue Reading

I Like This Doormat

Inside Out Apple Pie

I will try this one this week.  Apple Pie



Teacher Banned for Life For Being "Useless"

A teacher who is judged to be incapable of ever improving his work has become the first to be banned for life from the classroom due to incompetence.
Nisar Ahmed will never reach 'requisite standards' of teaching and cannot work in state schools again, a panel ruled.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1322989/Nisar-Ahmed-The-teacher-banned-life-useless.html#ixzz13NfWlKOW
We need more of this in this country.

Do Not Click This

I really wish you would not click this link


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Monday, October 25, 2010

Life Is Tough, Tougher When You Are Stupid

Elephant Toss

Don't think I ever saw that phrase before.



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Tractor music

One old tractor, some musicians, and what could be better!

Pregnancy Class

The room was full of pregnant women with their partners. The class was in full swing. The instructor was teaching the women how to breathe properly and was telling the men how to give the necessary assurance to their partners at this stage of the pregnancy.

She said “Ladies, remember that exercise is good for you! Walking is especially beneficial. It strengthens the pelvic muscles and will make delivery that much easier. Just take several steps and stay on a soft surface like grass or a path.”

She looked at the men in the room, “and Gentlemen, remember — You’re in this together — It wouldn’t hurt you to go walking with her.

The room suddenly got very quiet as the men absorbed this information. Then a man at the back of the room slowly raised his hand.

Yes”, answered the Instructor.

I was just wondering if it would be all right if she carries a golf bag while we walk?”

And thats when the fight broke out.

Johnny Paycheck - Old Violin (Acoustic)

Your weekly dose of old country music.

I had no idea these were still around.

Truth be told, I wasn’t aware Sony was still producing cassette Walkmans. But the company today announced it will stop manufacturing and selling these devices in Japan – after 30 years. Sony says the final lot was shipped to retailers in April this year, and once the last units are sold, there will be no cassette Walkmans from big S anymore.



Link

Service

It’s confusing when the word ” Service” is used with these agencies:
  • Internal Revenue  ‘ Service ‘
  • U.S. Postal  ‘ Service ‘
  • Telephone ‘ Service ‘
  • Cable TV ‘ Service ‘
  • Civil  ‘ Service ‘
  • State, City, County & Public ‘ Service ‘
  • Customer ‘ Service ‘
This is not what I thought Service “meant”.

But today I overheard two farmers talking and one of them said he had hired a bull to “service” all his cows.
BAM!!!  It all came into focus.  Now I understand what “Service” means.

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Excellent Article By P.J. O'Rourke

Perhaps you’re having a tiny last minute qualm about voting Republican. Take heart. And take the House and the Senate. Yes, there are a few flakes of dander in the fair tresses of the GOP’s crowning glory—an isolated isolationist or two, a hint of gold buggery, and Christine O’Donnell announcing that she’s not a witch. (I ask you, has Hillary Clinton ever cleared this up?) Fret not over Republican peccadilloes such as the Tea Party finding the single, solitary person in Nevada who couldn’t poll ten to one against Harry Reid. Better to have a few cockeyed mutts running the dog pound than Michael Vick.  Continue to read here

Call Me Senator - From David Zucker

Sunday, October 24, 2010

This Weekend

No blogtime this weekend, too much to do. Started building a cattle chute with a head catch gate. Ground is so hard with the drought we are in that an auger would not do the job. I had to use the old fashioned post hole diggers. No problem falling asleep.